Karawa Area Program

Karawa is an agrarian region in the northern DRC. The Karawa area program will serve approximately 68,000 of the region's 273,000 people. Livelihoods are supported by farmers and cattle breeding along with some small-scale trade. Karawa, as with the rest of the DRC, has suffered economically and socially because of various wars, looting and poor governance. However, the area is now considered peaceful.

The climate is tropical with a long rainy season from March to November. Farm production is potentially significant, but is hampered by deforestation, short-sighted agricultural practices and lack of market access for farmers. The ultimate effect of this is that it prevents the community from meeting the basic social needs of its families.

In addition to this fundamental challenge, Karawa faces several other pressing issues. Access to drinking water and educational facilities are poor. Socially and economically, traditional practices disenfranchise women and children; society is largely polygamous and women have little say in decision making.

Despite these challenges, community development organizations are present and committed to improving local conditions. Karawa's children and families are willing to work together with the support of World Vision and other organizations to overcome poverty.

Karawa faces several challenges to its economic and social development including issues of livelihood, education and child protection. Inadequate farming techniques, gender inequality, market barriers and climate change converge to lower economic output. Despite government laws that mandate otherwise, women and children have little or no voice. Various forms of child abuse are prevalent as a result, with girls being particularly affected. Education, which can be the doorway of opportunity, suffers for lack of infrastructure, supplies and parental interest.

Livelihoods
Poverty is driven by the impact and cost of treating malnutrition, exorbitant almond prices that harm farm income and limited access to markets where people can sell agricultural products. A combination of traditional, but inefficient, agricultural methods and climate change further compromises farming income. It's a vicious cycle because improved seeds that could increase yields are available, but incomes are too low to afford them. Knowledge of market gardening techniques is low, which is a driver of the area's high rates of malnutrition. There are also lingering effects from recent wars, including widespread business shutdowns that drive unemployment. Finally, while laws protecting women's rights exist and women contribute significantly to agricultural production, they are excluded from decision-making about management and income.

Education
Primary school attendance is relatively low at 68% and mainly attributed to a lack of supplies and school clothing for children due to poverty. Some children in public school are also diverted from their studies by having to work as farm labourers to support their own education costs—if they don't drop out altogether to support farming activities at home. The situation for girls is particularly serious, with a dropout rate of 45%. This is due to several factors including early marriage and early pregnancy. Facilities are in poor repair, with only seven of 46 primary schools in good condition. Benches are scarce and children are often exposed to the elements.

Child Protection & Participation
There is evidence in Karawa of various forms of violence against children and women, including harmful traditional practices, physical and sexual abuse, child labor, early marriage and more. A formal child protection code exists but the community either disregards it or is unaware of the actors working on child protection. The percentage of children under five whose births are registered is less than 20%, which makes child protection and provision of services more difficult. Unfortunately, children's views go frequently unconsidered by adults and local authorities.

Livelihoods
To secure improved economic outcomes, World Vision will:

• Strengthen farmers' organizations to organize a market where prices are regulated by producers' cooperatives.
• Support the development of micro-finance institutions that will allow farmers to save money.
• Support, through technical programs, the adoption of improved and sustainable agricultural practices.
• Provide food assistance and cash to families affected by COVID-19 in order to build resiliency.

Education
To help children develop the skills for future economic self-empowerment, World Vision will:

• Support government efforts in conducting literacy and non-formal education.
• Employ technical programs to increase the number of children, aged 3-12, who complete primary education.
• Support training sessions for local partners to build their capacity to provide quality education.
• Implement projects to promote equal access to education for both girls and boys.

Child Protection & Participation
To promote child safety and gender equality, World Vision will:

• Strengthen the capacity of community organizations to set up a child protection alert system.
• Improve children's access to the civil registry service.
• Design and fund micro-projects targeting gaps in coverage for the most vulnerable children.
• Implement programs that promote equal rights for girls, boys, men and women.